We believe in creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. Whether you are a long-time believer or just starting to explore your faith, our church offers a supportive space for spiritual growth and personal development. Connect with us and be part of a loving community.
Family Bible Church began as a church plant in 1984, birthed from the ministry of the Family Altar of the Air and the Family Altar Chapel in Battle Creek, Michigan. Led by Rev. Richard Gerten, a small team stepped out in faith to establish a new church in Marshall, purchasing a closed Lutheran church building through a remarkable land contract agreement.
Over the years, the church grew steadily—adding an education wing in 1988, expanding parking, and dedicating a new sanctuary in 1996. In 2005, the church officially became known as Family Bible Church, and in 2024, celebrated 40 years of ministry. Many from our congregation have gone on to serve in full-time ministry and missions.
Today, FBC continues as an independent, Christ-centered church committed to the authority of God’s Word, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and glorifying Jesus in all we do. As 2 Peter 3:18 encourages, we strive to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
DEVELOPING followers of Jesus who SERVE to REACH ONE more.
Our mission is how we go about accomplishing our vision. It is the practical steps of movement. Ultimately, we want to glorify God by being active disciples of Christ, leading the unsaved to Christ, encouraging growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, providing a climate for worship, fellowship and service, and spreading the good news in Marshall, the surrounding communities, and the ends of the world (Acts 2:18; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Peter 3:18).
To be a community who actively ENGAGES GOD and OTHERS whether GATHERED or SCATTERED.
Our vision describes who we want to be. This is how we desire the church to move. The church is a body of people daily engaging God through time with him and then interacting with the world. This happens when we gather together for worship, study, and prayer and also when we move through the week at work, school, play, and in our neighborhoods.
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
This confession of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of this church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor(s) and Deacons are the church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. No interpretation or application of scripture can conflict with the enumerated statement of faith.
We believe there is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References:
Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27; 2 Corinthians 13:14
We believe Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified by His shedding blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.
Scripture References:
John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24,25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9,10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1,2
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to dwell in, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
Scripture References:
Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 28:19; Romans 8:9-11; Eph. 5:18; John 16:8-11
We believe the Old and New Testaments are inerrant as originally given, were inspired by God and are the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.
Scripture References:
2 Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matt 5:18
We believe man was originally created in the image and likeness of God; he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The state after death of the unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; and that of the believer is everlasting joy and bliss.
Scripture References:
Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Thess. 4:16-17
We believe salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.
Scripture References:
John 3:18; Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19
We believe it is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin, the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.
Scripture References:
Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:23; John 17:17,19; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 12:1,2; 2 Peter 3:18
We believe the Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the Gospel to all nations.
Scripture References:
Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23; Eph. 4:3-13; Matt. 28:18-20
We believe there shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; for the just, a resurrection unto life; for the unjust, a resurrection unto judgment.
Scripture References:
Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; John 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13
We believe the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible and premillennial. This is the believer’s blessed hope.
Scripture References:
1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess 5:9; Rev. 3:10
We are committed to living out the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We believe lost people matter to God, they ought to matter to us.
We believe the good news is He accepts us as we are but the great news is He doesn’t leave us that way.
We believe who you are as a person is more important than what you do or what you know.
We believe the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.
We believe when our lifestyle consists of worship and scripture study it will show through individual consistency and corporate vibrancy.
We believe care, growth, fellowship and nurture happens best in small groups.
We believe a call to servanthood and ministry is the natural progression of a maturing believer.
We believe the church should operate as a loving, unified body of servants with each believer using their spiritual gifts and resources for Christ.